Billiard-table



(No Model.)

W. P. STEBBINS. BILLIARD TABLE.

No. 576,767. gatent ed Feb; 9, 1897.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

l/VILLIAM F. STEBBINS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BlLLlARD-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,767, dated February 9, 1897. Application filed May 11,1896. Serial No. 591,00l (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM F. STEBBINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and- State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushions for Billiard-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in billiard-tables,- the object being to provide improved pneumatic cushions which are extremely lively and satisfactory in use, which are entirely uniform in their resiliency in all parts thereof, which are easy of application upon any billiard-table, whether in substitution of solid cushions already provided or in the original equipment of the table, and which are of very simple construction, employinga smaller quantity of rubber than heretofore necessary in this class of cushions, thereby acquiring great economy in cost, and which construction is such that the edge of the cushion may be rendered and maintained straight, even, and continuous throughout its entire length; and to these ends the invention consists in constructions and combinations of parts, all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear, and be set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which only the cushions and their direct supports are illustrated, the outer rails of the billiard-table not being shown.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the four cushions for a billiard-table, certain outer parts being broken away to more plainly indicate internal constructions. Fig. 2 is a view, on a larger scale, showing in cross-section the one end cushion and, as in elevation beyond, the rear side cushion, the mitered construction at the end of the latter being seen at the right. Fig. 3 is a horizontal crosssection, taken at the corner of two cushions, on the plane indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional and perspective view of one of the cushions.

In the drawings, A represents the cushions, each as a whole, the same comprising the specially-provided and removable rail 13, of wood, which is understood as distinct and separate from the outer rail or framing of the table.

This removable rail is formed at its top at and back from its inner edge with a seat or depression a, and at its front face a little below its top with the longitudinally-extending concave depression 5, below which is the channel d, which is inwardly widened or undercut. Lying along and within and also protruding outwardly from each depression bis a tube C, of elastic rubber, which in practice is a little more than a half-inch in diameter, and this tube is confined in its position by the strip f, of flexible material, preferably textile, one edge of which is secured by tacks 10 in said depression at the top of the rail, its middle portion being drawn firmly and closely over the tube 0, while its lower marginal portion is entered in the said undercut channel at and confined by the wire rod g, which is crowded therein.

Lying along, against, and directly forward of the flexible confining-strip ffor the tube O is a comparatively small round rod h, of elastic rubber, the same being continuous and extending the whole length of the cushion, and this is confined within a longitudinal pocket or sheath therefor, which consists of a textile strip or tapej, sewed longitudinally, near its edges, to the textile strip which holds the tube against the removable rail B, there being intcrmediately of said strip j sufficient slack to permit the said rod to be drawn thereinto with a tight fit.

G represents the usual broadcloth cushioncover, the same extending from its one edge connection at the rear near the top of the rail over the top, down forwardly to and around the prominence caused by the tube and the rod of rubber'lying in front thereof, thence receding downwardly rearwardly and, crossing the bottom of the rail, has its other edge confined to the outer side of said rail nearits lower outer corner.

The tube for each cushion is closed at each end, and it and the mitered corner of the rail are covered by the flat metallic plate D, secured by the screws on to the end of the rail, and to the edge of this plate, which has the row of perforations 12, the cloth G is stitched.

Each of the four cushion-tubes 0 (except one thereof at its one end) at their ends near the corner of the table has the depending intern ally-connecting tubular stem n, and adjacent pairs of these stems, which are provided at three of the corners of the table, are

connected by the U -formed tubular couplings t. Obviously one cushion at one of its ends does not require any depending tubular stem or, while the stem at the adjacent end of the next cushion is adapted for the connection therewith of an air-pump, whereby by forcing air theret-hrough under compression all of the rubber tubes are inflated in the required degree and all uniformly as to pressure. This stem is appropriately closed tight by a screw-cap 71 Various expedients have heretofore been resorted to in order to acquire a pneumatic cushion for billiard-tables which have never, so far as known to me, been carried into successful practice, certain defects and objections thereto existing which have not been practicably overcome, and I have devised and put into experimental use several different contrivauces embodying the pneumatic principle which were disadvantageous or unsuccessful, and I have also fully carried out and put into actual use a perfected set of cushions for a regular billiard-table constructed as above described, and I have found the same entirely satisfactory, and especially because of reasons as follows: All of the fourcushions are uniform as to inflation and resiliency and in the use of my billiard-table by expert players all required liveliness and accuracy in play are found, the cushions are produced at a very moderate cost as compared with that of other billiard-cushions, the amount in weight of rubber required being comparatively slight, and the necessity of special and expensive rubber molds for their production is avoided; the parts of the cushions which are composed of rubber may, when, afterprotracted use, they lose their elastic nature, be easily and cheaply replaced, and the sets of cushions in their entirety are easily applicable. in substitution of the old cushions, on billiard-tables already manufactured.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a billiard-cushion, a rail having at its forward side a depression or rest, an elastic tube lying in and along and projected forwardly beyond said rest, a strip of textile flexible material, as canvas, secured by both its edges to the rail, and intermediately confining the said tube between it and the rail, and having along its outer face the textile strip secured thereto by the double row of stitching whereby a longitudinal pocket is produced, and the rod of elastic rubber of smaller diameter than the tube disposed in said longitudinal pocket, substantially as described.

2. In a billiard-cushion, the combination with the rail B having the seat b in its forward face and having the undercut channel (I therebelow. of the inflatable tube lyingalong said rest, the strip f of flexible material having its upper edge secured to an upper part of the rail, the same being passed forwardly around the front of saidtube and having its portion at and adjacent to its lower edge entered in said undercut channel, together with the also-inserted stay-rod g, substantially as described. 7

3. In a billiard-cushion, the combination with the rail B having the seat I) in its forward face and having an undercut channel parallel therewith, of the inflatable elastic tube lying along said rest, the strip f of flexible material having its upper edge secured to a part of the rail at one side of the tube, being passed around the front of said tube and having its other edge portion, together with the stay-rod g, entered in said undercut channel, the additional strip j secured in parallel lines along the front of strip f and having inclosed along therein the small elastic rod 71, and the usual cushion-covering cloth, substantially as described.

4. For a billiard-table, the four rails 13, each having the front seats b, and the mitered ends with the metallic plates D secured thereto, which have the perforations 12, the elastic inflatable tubes 0, and the small elastic rods along the front thereof, means substantially as described for confining said tubes and rods in the respective positions at the front of the rail, the usual cushion-coverin g cloths G having their ends secured by stitching to the said perforated plates, and means for effecting the entrance of compressed air into one of the tubes C, and couplings connecting the several tubes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have sign ed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 7th day of May, 1896.

XVM. F. STEBBINS.

\Vitnesses:

WM. S. BELLows, N. M. BELLOVVS. 

